GALWAY captain Aoibhinn Eilean lifts the cup and celebrates with her teammates following Saturday’s ZuCar All-Ireland Minor A Ladies Football Championship final win against Kildare. PHOTO: BEN MCSHANE | SPORTSFILE

MINOR MARVELS

Galway outclass Kildare in U-18 All-Ireland final

SEVEN was the relevant number when it came to Galway's victory over Kildare in Saturday's All-Ireland Minor A Ladies Football Championship final.

Following six previous victories in 2002, '05, '10, '13, '14 and '18, it moved the county closer to market leaders Cork who have 12 on the roll of honour.

Their latest success came on the back another superb performance as they shrugged aside an uncertain start and an early five-point deficit before taking firm control against the Lilywhites and underlining their status as the best U-18 team in the land.

Their three most recent wins have come by an average of over 10 points — against Mayo in the Connacht final and both Monaghan and Kildare in the All-Ireland series. Put simply, they've been head and shoulders above all other contenders.

Goals from Aisling Madden and Kate Thompson (two) were the final's headline scores, while Siún McGovern helped herself to six points on a day when Niamh Divilly, Katie Slattery and the two Éabhas, Smith and Baird, also put their names to the scoresheet…

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